Hocking Hills, OH Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations 2026
Everything you need to know about operating a legal short-term rental in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Licensing, taxes, zoning, and 2026 compliance requirements.
Hocking Hills STR Regulation Overview
Hocking Hills is Ohio's premier cabin-getaway market, drawing hikers, leaf-peepers, and weekenders to hundreds of wooded rental properties across Hocking County. The regulatory landscape is shifting from light-touch toward structured, but the new rules are not yet law. Because the county is largely unzoned, STRs currently remain legal countywide with no permit requirement, no primary-residence requirement, and no cap on the number of operators, which keeps the market investor-friendly. A draft Short-Term Rental Ordinance (latest clean version dated January 29, 2026) would introduce a county-wide permit administered by the Regional Planning Office, with a proposed $50 annual fee, a property inspection, $1 million liability insurance, a local contact, a background check, and safety standards covering egress, driveways, parking, decks, and signage. The county Zoning Commission voted to recommend the draft in February 2026, but it was still under prosecutor and commissioner review as of mid-2026, with no adoption vote. Owners would get one year after adoption to comply. Combined with the existing 6% lodging tax, Hocking Hills sits in the Moderate tier: open to new entrants today but heading toward a more rules-driven regime.
Hocking Hills STR Quick Facts
| STR Legal? | Yes |
| License Required | No |
| License Cost | No county permit is required yet; the draft ordinance proposes a $50/year permit plus a pass-through third-party inspection fee. |
| Lodging Tax | 6% bed tax |
| Occupancy / Density Caps | No county-wide density cap or limit on the number of permits. The draft ordinance ties occupancy to bedroom/loft square footage (children under 6 generally not counted) and requires one on-site parking space per four guests at the occupancy limit. These provisions are proposed and not yet in force. |
| Primary Residence Required | No |
Proposed county permit (not yet in effect)
Under the draft January 2026 ordinance, every STR would need a permit from the Hocking County Regional Planning Office, with a proposed $50 annual fee renewed yearly, plus a pass-through third-party inspection cost. As of mid-2026 the ordinance had been recommended by the Zoning Commission but not adopted, so no county permit is currently required.
Inspection, insurance, and background check (proposed)
The draft would require a site inspection, proof of at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage, a County Auditor letter of good standing on taxes, health-department compliance, and a background check. It is not yet finalized who would perform inspections; officials have discussed subcontracting code enforcement.
Safety and egress standards (proposed)
Each designated sleeping location would need two points of ingress/egress (windows or doors), with walkway and bunk-bed clearance standards. Decks would have to meet structural load standards and the property would have to comply with Ohio's Fire Code.
Emergency access and driveway rules (proposed)
Properties would have to meet the County's Driveway Standards so emergency services can reach the site, or obtain a variance. Reflective address placards and clear unit numbering would be required for first-responder navigation.
Parking and occupancy (proposed)
At least one on-site parking space would be required per four guests at the occupancy limit, on the same private parcel. Occupancy would be calculated from bedroom and loft square footage, with children under age 6 generally not counted toward the limit. There is no cap on the total number of STRs.
6% lodging tax (in effect now) and local contact
Operators must already register for and remit the county's 6% lodging excise tax (split 3% county / 3% township) on stays under 30 days, filed monthly. The draft ordinance would additionally require a reachable local contact person near the property. Reported drafts have referenced a local contact within roughly 30 minutes/30 miles.
Hocking Hills STR Market Performance
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Short-term rentals are legal throughout Hocking County, which is largely unzoned and has historically welcomed cabin rentals. There is no ban and no primary-residence requirement. As of 2026, the county is reviewing a draft ordinance that would require a permit and inspection, but it has not yet been adopted, and STR operation remains permitted countywide for compliant dwelling units.
Not yet. As of mid-2026, no county STR permit is required. A draft Hocking County STR ordinance (latest clean version dated January 29, 2026) would require every STR to obtain a permit from the Regional Planning Office for a proposed $50 annual fee, plus a pass-through inspection cost. The Zoning Commission recommended the draft in February 2026, but it was still under review with no final adoption vote. Once adopted, existing owners would get about one year to come into compliance.
Hocking County imposes a 6% lodging excise tax on stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days, split 3% to the county and 3% to the local township, filed and paid monthly. Booking platforms generally do not remit it on the operator's behalf, so hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting. Standard Ohio income taxes also apply.
There is currently no county-wide occupancy cap, and no cap on the total number of STRs. The draft ordinance would calculate occupancy from bedroom and loft square footage (with children under 6 generally excluded) and would require one on-site parking space per four guests at the occupancy limit, but these provisions are not yet in force.
No. Neither current rules nor the draft Hocking County ordinance contain a primary-residence or owner-occupancy requirement, so non-resident investors can own and operate cabins. The draft would, however, require a designated local contact person near the property to handle complaints or emergencies, which effectively favors reliable local management.
Informational only — verify current rules with local authorities before investing. Sources: hocking.oh.gov · hocking.oh.gov · woub.org · citizenportal.ai · www.loganhockingtimes.org
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